Search affidavit: Counselor suggested student record sexual assault

A counselor at Goliad Middle School admitted to suggesting a child, who had reported being sexually assaulted, video record any future assaults, according to a search warrant affidavit released Friday.

Cheryl Worley, 58, was arrested Nov. 23 on suspicion of felony abandoning or endangering a child and failure to timely report abuse, a Class A misdemeanor.

A video recording of a sexual assault was made Nov. 17 on the victim's laptop computer, which was issued by the Goliad school district, according to the affidavit.

After previous outcries from the student, Worley suggested that, should the incident occur again, the victim record it on the computer. The child brought Worley the recording of the assault, and Worley further suggested the victim save the video to a jump drive, according to the affidavit filed in the Goliad County district/county clerk's office.

In an interview conducted by Texas Ranger Drew E. Pilkington on Nov. 22, Worley said she viewed the video on more than one occasion, according to the affidavit.

The Goliad County Sheriff's Office arrested a 44-year-old Berclair man, suspected of being the one in the video, on Nov. 18 on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault on a child.

The Advocate is not identifying the man to protect the girl's identity.

The victim was interviewed Nov. 19 at the child advocacy center, Hope of South Texas, where she reported being abused.

The man admitted to the assault in an interview with Pilkington on Nov. 22, according to the affidavit. The suspect was again arrested by the Texas Rangers on Nov. 22 on suspicion of continuous sexual abuse of a child and indecency with a child, said Lisa Block, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

He remains in the Goliad County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Shortly after her arrest, Worley was released on her own recognizance after Justice of the Peace Steve Kennedy set bail at $5,000 and $4,000, the judge said.

District Attorney Michael Sheppard said he received the arrest and search warrant affidavits Friday morning, but had yet to receive the offense report from the Rangers.

Tela Mange, chief of media relations at DPS, said the offense report is not yet complete.

From the affidavit, it's unclear whether Worley was the one who turned the video over to authorities, Sheppard said.

"My guess is, she was the one who reported it to officers," he said. "When I get the offense report, I'll review it, and then we decide whether or not the case goes on the grand jury docket."

Worley has been placed on administrative leave with pay, according to a news release from the Goliad school district.

Phone calls to Worley were not returned Friday.

A spokesperson for the clerk's office said Worley did not have an attorney on record.